Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 73 Andrew Kristofic, fifth-year right guard, likely starter

11.06.2023 - 13:57 nbcsports.com

Listed measurements: 6-foot-5 ¼, 305 pounds. 2023-24 year, eligibility: A fifth-year, Kristofic has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Kristofic had the edge of experience in the right guard position competition this spring, and that paid off with him emerging as the starter. Recruiting: Notre Dame initially noticed Kristofic as he protected his high-school quarterback, a passer by the name of Phil Jurkovec.

The former Irish quarterback will return to face his old team and his longtime teammate in late October when Pittsburgh visits South Bend.

Of course, Kristofic has put together a much stronger Notre Dame career than Jurkovec managed to. A high school All-American and consensus four-star tackle, Kristofic chose the Irish over the likes of Clemson, Ohio State and Wisconsin, in part because Notre Dame had been recruiting him that much longer. CAREER TO DATE Kristofic steadied the Irish offensive line in 2021, alongside then-freshman Joe Alt, when he replaced Zeke Correll at left guard.

Kristofic and Alt meshed well and thus sparked Notre Dame’s ground game. Through the first six games of the season, the Irish averaged 120.5 rushing yards per game (sacks adjusted).

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Notre Dame landed a second safety commitment in less than a week with consensus four-star athlete Brauntae Johnson (North Side High School; Fort Wayne, Ind.) ’s Saturday morning pledge. Though he also excels at receiver in high school and is considered an “athlete” by recruiting services, the Irish expect Johnson to play at safety in the years to come.

Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 50 Rocco Spindler, junior offensive guard

Listed measurements: 6-foot-4 ⅝, 325 pounds. 2023-24 year, eligibility: A junior, Spindler has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Spindler entered spring practices expected to compete to be one of Notre Dame’s starting guards, but fifth-year Andrew Kristofic took the lead at right guard while sophomore Billy Schrauth seemed to emerge from April as the starter at left guard, leaving Spindler as the backup to one or the other, most likely Kristofic. Recruiting: A Michigan native, Spindler made a habit of visiting his homestate powerhouse, doing so six times during his recruitment. He also checked out that school down south (Ohio State) three times before he chose Notre Dame. An Under Armour All-American and consensus four-star prospect, rivals.com ranked Spindler the No. 4 guard in the class of 2021 and the No. 67 overall prospect.

Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 52 Zeke Correll, fifth-year center, third-year starter

Listed measurements: 6-foot-3, 310 pounds. 2023-24 year, eligibility: A fifth-year veteran, Correll still has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Correll will start at center, the second straight year in that role and his third beginning a season as a starting offensive lineman. Recruiting: A consensus four-star prospect and the No. 6 guard in the country, per rivals.com, Correll chose Notre Dame over other finalists Clemson, Ohio State and Stanford.

Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 54 Blake Fisher, junior right tackle, second-year starter

Listed measurements: 6-foot-6, 310 pounds. 2023-24 year, eligibility: A junior, Fisher has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Fisher will start for Notre Dame at right tackle, his third of three seasons starting for the Irish in their season opener (barring any preseason calamity). That remains worth mentioning as Fisher was only the second freshman to ever start a season opener on Notre Dame’s offensive line. Recruiting: Rivals.com considered Fisher a five-star prospect, the singular such player on the Irish roster the last two seasons. Unsurprisingly, he thus could have gone to just about any program, but instead the Indiana native and All-American hardly considered anywhere but his homestate’s most famous football program, serving as the class of 2021’s unofficial lead recruiter, nicknamed “The Mayor.”

Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 56 Howard Cross, fifth-year defensive tackle, multi-year starter

Listed measurements: 6-foot-⅞, 280 pounds.2023-24 year, eligibility: A fifth-year veteran, Cross has two seasons of eligibility remaining.Depth Chart: Cross will start for Notre Dame at nose tackle this fall, once again serving at the point of attack, more often tasked with occupying space than breaking into the backfield. There is no proven backup behind him, though juniors Jason Onye and Gabe Rubio have impressed enough to think Cross will get some rest in 2023. Onye better fits the position, but Rubio has more experience.Recruiting: A consensus four-star prospect, Cross chose the Irish over a bounty of Big Ten and ACC offers, including Michigan, Northwestern and Boston College. The son of a former NFL tight end and the Gatorade New Jersey Football Player of the Year in 2018, Cross was rated the No. 27 defensive end in the class by rivals.com.

Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 59 Aamil Wagner, sophomore offensive tackle

Listed measurements: 6-foot-6, 278 pounds. 2023-24 year, eligibility: A sophomore, Wagner has all four seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Wagner could enter the season as the named backup to junior right tackle Blake Fisher, though he may have preseason competition from senior Michael Carmody. Recruiting: Few recruits announce their commitment with no one knowing about it beforehand. Recruiting websites bluntly hint at a coming commitment or coaches tease a pending pledge on social media. At the least, the honored school knows good news is coming before a scheduled announcement.